Bristol, U.K.-based studio Aardman teamed with agency creative specialists Catsnake to develop this watercolor style animated film that celebrates the work of the U.K.’s largest nature conservation charity, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Titled “Time Flies,” the :60 earned the #1 entry on SHOOT’s quarterly Top Ten VFX and Animation Chart.
The top slot getter on the Chart features the voice of Academy Award®-winning actor Jim Broadbent. Catsnake’s brand research for the RSPB gleaned that the charity’s target audience has an inherent connection to the nature that surrounds them, and a profound appreciation of this connection’s importance to our collective future.
Catsnake developed the “Time Flies” creative to capture this feeling, using the central metaphor of a baby blue tit separated from its parents, before finding its way home–along the way encountering man-made obstacles that have sprung up over the years–to illustrate that although we have become disconnected from the natural world over time, the RSPB is working tirelessly to help us rebuild this vital bond so that one day people and nature can truly thrive together.
Nostalgic and organic
Catsnake felt the most effective way to capture the beauty and majesty of nature, over hundreds of years, was through the medium of animation and the watercolor design was established to provoke feelings of nostalgia with the viewer–the hand-crafted aesthetic connecting beautifully with the organic nature of the story. Working collaboratively with director Bram Ttwheam and the team of expert artists at Aardman, the stunning film was brought to life.
Edward Dark, co-director of “Time Flies” and CEO/creative director of Catsnake, said, “I have personally found directing this project with the extremely talented, and amicable (two traits that don’t always go together) Bram Ttwheam to be a joy. Not only have we been on the same page from day one, but the creative flair, originality and immense technical skill that he, and the whole Aardman team, brought to the project, has made the final film immeasurably better. I’m extremely proud of what we have produced together and hope we can do it again soon.”
Aardman director Ttwheam was delighted to have the opportunity to create this charming visual tale, commenting, “Catsnake have a penchant for strong narrative with a lot of heart. Edward communicates with such clarity and aplomb that it’s been an absolute pleasure to share a vision. Pieces with such rich seams come along rarely and it was a joy to explore the myriad possibilities. Working in a different style and telling a story with such scope has been immensely rewarding. If the opportunity to work together ever happens again, I’ll seize it with both hands.”
Vicki O’Hare, head of legacy marketing at the RSPB, added, “We’re extremely proud of our new legacy TV advert; the successful culmination of months of work between the RSPB Legacy team, Catsnake and Aardman. The way that the story is told through stunning animation will hopefully touch the hearts of people across the nation as they follow the journey of our fledgling blue tit through a changing landscape; one that can only be saved for future generations by acting now. Gifts in wills make up over a quarter of the RSPB’s income, so it’s vital that we raise awareness of how important they are.”
Aardman deployed a Toolbox kit on “Time Flies” which included Maya, Arnold, Photoshop, Fresco, After Effects, Houdini, Nuke and Resolve.
Click here to see the quarterly Top Ten VFX and Animation Chart.
